About Binaural Beats

About Binaural Beats

What are Binaural Beats and how do they work?

What are Binaural Beats (Basic Definition)

‘Binaural Beats’ is a term given to a measured change in brain activity when presented with audio stimulus. When a person is presented with a stereo sound with two different tones – the brain produces a response (binaural beat) which is hearing and responding to the difference between the tones, not the actual tones themselves.

At Mindfit we do not use different tones when creating Binaural Beats (tones can be very annoying and distracting) – We create a slight different in the notes or sounds presented in the left and right channel of the music.

Listen to a Music Sample with Binaural Beat Encoding

The sample will first play in its original form and then again with the tonal changes required to produce the Binaural Beat effect.

This sample has a high volume of difference between the tones compared to the actual Hypnosis sessions, so that you can really hear the ‘wavy effect’ of the difference in how each side sounds.

Detailed Definition of Binaural Beats

Binaural beats are auditory brain-stem responses which originate in the superior olivary nucleus of each brain hemisphere. They result from two different auditory impulses or sounds, heard from opposite ears. This binaural beat is consciously heard as the human hearing range is from 20-20,000 Hz. Rather it is perceived as an auditory beat and theoretically is being used coach certain brain rhythms from what is called the frequency-following response (the tendency for the brain to resonate at the frequency of an external stimulus).

How It Works On The Brain

When signals of two different frequencies (sounds) are presented, one to each ear, the brain detects phase differences between these signals. The brain processes this anomalous information differently when these phase differences are heard with stereo headphones or speakers. A perceptual integration of the two signals in perceived in the brain, producing the sensation of a third “beat”. The difference between the signals waxes and wanes (this is the “wavy” sound heard in the hypnotic sessions) as the two stereo sounds mesh in and out of phase. The binaural beat is perceived as a fluctuating rhythm at the frequency of the difference between the two auditory inputs.

How Binaural Beats creates a Hypnotic Response

Binaural beats can easily be heard at the low frequencies (< 30 Hz) that are characteristic of the EEG spectrum (Oster, 1973). This perceptual phenomenon of binaural beating and the objective measurement of the frequency-following response (Hink, Kodera, Yamada, Kaga, & Suzuki, 1980) suggest conditions which generate brain waves activity and altered states of consciousness (hypnotic trance).

There are a growing amount of research efforts reporting changes in consciousness associated with binaural-beats. “The subjective effect of listening to binaural beats may be relaxing or stimulating, depending on the frequency of the binaural-beat stimulation” (Owens & Atwater, 1995). Binaural beats in the delta (1 to 4 Hz) and theta (4 to 8 Hz) ranges have been associated with reports of relaxed, meditative, and creative states (Hiew, 1995), and used as an aid to falling asleep. Binaural beats in the alpha frequencies (8 to 12 Hz) have increased alpha brain waves (Foster, 1990) and binaural beats in the beta frequencies (typically 16 to 24 Hz) have been associated with reports of increased concentration or alertness (Monroe, 1985) and improved memory (Kennerly, 1994).

And what does all this mean in plain Language?

In a nutshell ….. When the tones (or in our product session case, the difference in the pitch) in the left and right channels when using headphones are heard – your brainwave activity changes. Your brain wave activity mimics the difference in the tones and you become relaxed. If the Binaural Beats are at the same frequency of a hypnotic trance state, you are taken into this state.

How Mindfit Uses Binaural Beats

Mindfit Hypnosis uses the differing rates of Binaural beat stimulation during the induction and therapy parts of its sessions.

In the Induction: to aid in the progressive relaxation acquired when entering the Hypnotic state, our sessions start off in the Beta (or awake) frequency for a period of a few minutes. Then over the course of the 10-15 minute induction this frequency is changed to reflect the Theta State. Theta is related to a deep trance level.

In the Session: Once the Hypnotic session begins, the Binaural Beats are slowly increased to Alpha (or normal Hypnosis) for a period of a few minutes. This Alpha then Theta pattern is cycled until the end of the session. It is believed that since you naturally rise and fall in your level of trance during a hypnotic session, it is better to follow this natural cycle at a deeper level.

In the Wake Up Procedure: Two minutes before the wake up procedure starts, the Binaural Beats frequency begins to increase, bringing you back into a conscious or wide awake state. This is not required at all, as simply opening your eyes will do this – but it helps with the alertness levels

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All Mindfit’s Hypnosis Session’s contain Binaural Beats

Hypnosis is a fast and powerful method of guided communication directly to your subconscious mind – the place where your Beliefs, Attitudes and Behaviors are created and activated automatically for you. Use Hypnotherapy for an active role in changing your life.

Dr Andrew Dobson is a qualified Psychologist, Hypnotherapist and Life Coach and the owner and creator of Mindfit Hypnosis - providing online hypnotherapy since 2002. For over 13 years, Dr Dobson of Mindfit, has provided Real Therapy based on Science using the Subconscious Modalities of Hypnotherapy and NLP. Join Mindfit Hypnosis on Facebook and Google+ for updates and special discounts